Chiefs quietly made one of the NFL's smartest moves behind Patrick Mahomes

The NFL preseason is full of positional rankings that always entice fans to debate the merits of their favorite players, but the conversation only goes so far. After all, it feels weird to discuss backup players, but in a way, it makes sense at quarterback.

Given the importance of the quarterback position, it's vital for teams to have a solid QB2 ready and waiting in case they're called upon. Entire seasons can be shelved, even those with very talented rosters, just because a quarterback is unable to play.

That's why we're paying attention to what Pro Football Network has to say about the state of backup quarterbacks for the 2025 season. PFN's new backup quarterback rankings place Gardner Minshew at No. 12, and that placement matters for the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Chiefs signed Minshew this offseason to a one-year deal to serve as the latest veteran holding a clipboard in case something happens to Patrick Mahomes. He took over for Carson Wentz, who took over for Blaine Gabbert who took over for Chad Henne.

Any injury to Mahomes would be catastrophic, but Minshew gives Kansas City a steadier hand waiting in the wings than most teams can claim. His résumé—46 starts across six NFL seasons—suggests he won’t be overwhelmed by the demands of the job. His solid stretches in Jacksonville and Indianapolis, when surrounded by competent talent, show he can keep a team competitive in the interim.

This year's backup QB rankings are out from Pro Football Network and the Chiefs fared nicely.

As for how the rest of the AFC West stacks up, the Chiefs have the best emergency outlet. The Raiders’ Aidan O’Connell sits just behind Minshew at No. 13, which gives Las Vegas a decent option if Geno Smith falters for any reason.

The L.A. Chargers check in at No. 19 with Taylor Heinicke, while the Denver Broncos are down at No. 23 with Jarrett Stidham. Both quarterbacks would bring serious offensive concerns to any forced stretch of starts.

Across the league, PFN ranked Kirk Cousins (Atlanta Falcons) at the No. 1 backup quarterback in the league behind Michael Penix Jr. It will be interesting to see if he remains in that position or if Atlanta can find a way to trade him to a team desiring a new starting option. Jake Browning (Cincinnati Bengals) and Jimmy Garoppolo (L.A. Rams) round out the top three.

Minshew isn’t in that rarified air, but No. 12 underscores the Chiefs' important investment behind Mahomes to make sure they had a dependable option behind the best in the NFL. That’s smart insurance for a team chasing another Lombardi.